Background to this inspection
Updated
11 May 2021
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.
Service and service type
Orchard Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information that we had received about the service, and notifications sent to us by the provider about events within the service. We sought feedback from partner agencies and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection-
We spoke with four people who live at the service and two family members about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included six care plans and four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also looked at records of service audits, governance, meetings, incidents, accidents, complaints and compliments.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We gained feedback from four health professionals who had recently worked with the service.
Updated
11 May 2021
About the service
Orchard Court provides residential care for people with a range of needs such as living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The service accommodates up to 63 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 16 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service had made improvements to the quality of care and implemented new ways of working to give the registered manager better oversight of the service. We found that the medication audit process needed improving and embedding to be fully effective. The provider was aware of these shortfalls and was making changes to make the system more robust.
People felt safe living at Orchard Court and were supported by knowledgeable staff who knew them well. Staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe, whilst enabling them to be independent and have maximum choice in the way they spent their days. Staff were suitably skilled and experienced to support people well.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were kind and caring and knew peoples likes and dislikes. There was a cheerful and upbeat atmosphere at the home where people were busy and engaged.
People and staff were involved in improving the service and were invited to give feedback and ideas. Relatives were kept informed of changes and were involved in reviewing care when appropriate. They felt able to approach the register manager with any concerns. Issues were addressed quickly and appropriately and lessons learned from incidents.
The registered manager was very visible in the service. She understood her responsibilities and had a clear vision for improving the service. She engaged with other partnership organisations to improve practice and drive up the quality of care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was requires improvement, published on 30 April 2018. The service has improved to good.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.